Bedpan



Feb. 14, 1939.

c. RICHARD BEDPAN Original Filed Oct. 10, 1936 INVENTOR. C/emc-wf Cfi'ca/d m ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BEDPAN field Hills, Mich.

Application October 10, 1936, Serial No. 105,035 Renewed July 15, 1938 8 Claims.

This invention relates to bed pans, the object being to provide a bed pan of a construction which causes the parts of the body in the pelvi-rectal region to be separated by means of elements op- 6 erable by the weight of the individual, the separating pressure being applied to the buttocks and lower part of the pelvis thus providing for unrestrained peristaltic action of the alimentary canal so desirable for persons in a weakened physical condition.

Heretofore, with the usual bed pans and in fact most toilet seats within applicants knowledge, the weight of the user tends to press the buttocks together thereby requiring considerable more exertion on the part of the individual to overcome the applied pressure than would otherwise be required to properly expel the feces.

The invention further consists in the form and relationship of the parts productive of a separation of the buttocks through weight of the user in utilizing the bed pan, the said movable elements further forming at least a partial cover for the pan, and the form of the rim of the pan and of the movable elements being such that the weight of the user causes the same to spread and to move downwardly in contact with the rim to a limited extent and sealing the interstice therebetween and preventing liquid from being splashed from the pan.

A further feature of the invention is involved in the provision of a pan of a peculiar form of rim as hereinafter more specifically described and a pair of members duplicate in form and providing a seat for the user, the two members being in separate pivotal relation with the pan and spring-pressed toward each other and further preferably readily removable to permit cleaning.

These and other objects and novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and the preferred form of construction of a bed pan embodying my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a plan view showing my improved bed pan, the spring-pressed and separable seat elements being shown in full lines in the position when in use and in dotted lines in the position assumed thereby when not in use.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation taken from the left side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 1 showing the pivots of the separable elements on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. I at a right angle to the section shown in Fig. 4.

In my improved form of bed pan, 1 provide a body portion I, which, as shown in Fig. 3, is of least depth at the end 2 and of greatest depth at the end 3 and, as shown in Fig. 1, the pan is of greater width at the end 2, the side edges or rim 4 of the pan being outturned as will be understood from Fig, 2 and extending in parallel lines toward the end of greatest depth and at said end is narrowed and sharply increases in height from the point 5 toward the end 3. This provides inclined rim portions 20 and 2| extending in opposed angular directions from the narrow end to the junction with the parallel sides of the body the purpose of which is hereinafter described.

The pan may be made of sheet metal and enameled or of any appropriate character of material that is sanitary in character,

The means for producing a separating strain at the pelvi-rectal region comprises two similar plates 6 and 7. Each of these plates is pivotally supported to the end of the pan by means of the pivot pins 8 and 9. Preferably the outturned edge of the pan at the end 2 has secured therein a metal bearing element [0 here shown as having grooves into which the flange 4 of the pan I may engage. There are two metal elements l0 apertured to receive the respective pivot pins: which are loosely fitted in place and permit the ready removal of the plates 6 and 1 from the pan.

The pivot pins 8 and 9 are grooved and the metal of the plates engages therein as shown in Fig. 5 for retaining the pins in place in the respective plates. Both these plates at the pivoted end are formed with a depending flange H to which is welded or otherwise desirably secured a spring strip l2 having a bowed portion l3 therein tending to force the plates together to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. l.

The plates each have two curved portions, one a deeply curved portion I4 which is shown in Figs, 1 and 3 as being located toward the end 2 of the 'pan and extends downwardly thereinto forming a recess for the buttocks of the user.

From this portion extends another curved portion l5 to receive the legs of the user which, upon being seated on these separable elements 6 and I, extend in the form of a V each way from the center as will be understood from Fig. 1. inner edge of the curved portion I5 is rather sharply upturned as indicated at IS in Fig. 3 and then at the point I! drops sharply down to meet the inner edge of the portion forming the inner edge [8 of the curved portion l4. Theme The r plates 6 and I serve to shield the portions of the body of the user positioned thereon from being splashed with the contents of the pan. The de- Vice is equally effective in use wherein the user sits upright on the pan or lies in an inclined position thereon, in either of which positions the user is considered as being seated thereon.

It will be observed from Fig. 3 more particularly that, when the user sits on the separable elements 6 and 1, the weight of the user causes the plates to ride down the oppositely inclined portions 20 and 2| of the side flanges of the pan which lie at an angle substantially as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In so riding down and due to the buttocks being positioned in the depressions M of the respective members and of the legs being engaged by the portion IS, a separation of the buttocks of the user is produced thus freeing the user from necessity of overcomingartificial pressure common in many pans heretofore in use wherein the buttocks are pressed together due to the weight of the user. The muscular contraction of the alimentary canal in expulsion of the feces will thus not be resisted by this artificial pressure but, on the contrary, is entirely freed from even the normal contraction of the parts. Evacuation of the bowel through use of my improved bed pan therefore is more readily accomplished and the patient is freed from excess efforts that would otherwise be required which, with a patient in a weakened condition, is oftentimes impossible.

While, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. l, the separating members 6 and I lie closely together to about the midsection of the pan, the separation thereof is such as to provide proper space for use of the same. The plates are limited in this separating movement by the rim of the pan which, as shown in Fig. 2, is engaged by the plates when in fully spread position.

It is believed evident from the foregoing description, that the bed pan is of simple construction consisting of the pan and the two spreader elements or plates each pivotally connected to one edge of the pan and spring-pressed toward each other causing the free ends of the two spreader elements to move upwardly along the rim of the pan, and when in this position the weight of the user tends to cause the plates to ride downwardly and outwardly on the rim. Thus, due to the position of the user toward the opposite and pivoted lower end of these plates, the plates cause separation of the buttocks and permit expulsion of the feces practically without effort.

It is further to be observed that the device is of simple construction, that the parts are separable to provide for ready cleaning and a structure is secured that is sanitary in character, and further that the various objects of the invention are attained by the structure described. It is pointed out, however, that various departures in form and arrangement of the parts may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode of operation, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States isl. A bed pan comprising a body portion of pan like form, means associated therewith providing a seat for the user, said means including movable elements functioning by weight of the user to subject the pelvi-rectal portion of the body of the user to separating strains by influence of the users weight.

2. A bed pan comprising a body portion of panlike form, a pair of plates providing a seat for the user, the parts being so constructed that each buttock is supported by a plate and the weight of the user when seated therein causes the plates to separate thereby subjecting the buttocks to separating strains.

3. A bed pan comprising a body of pan-like form, and means associated therewith providing a seat to receive the respective buttocks of the user and so arranged that the weight of the user causes separation of the plates and thereby producing a condition in the pelvi-rectal region nonresistant to the peristaltic action of the alimentary canal.

4. A bed pan comprising a body portion of panlike form of greater depth at one end than at the other providing a rim upwardly inclined in respect to the plane of the pan bottom, a pair of plates each pivoted to the lower end of the pan closely adjacent to and on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line thereof, the opposite and free ends of the plates lying on the inclined rim, spring means tending to move the plates inwardly over the pan, the plates each being shaped to receive a buttock and leg portion of the user and the weight of the user When seated thereon automatically causing the plates to turn outwardly and downwardly along the rim of the pan to spread the buttocks and thereby produce a condition in the pelvi-rectal region non-resistant to the peristaltic action of the pelvic portion of the alimentary canal.

5. A bed pan comprising a pan-like body portion of less depth at one end than the other and having an outturned rim, a pair of plates providing a seat for the user, each plate being pivoted at closely adjacent points to the rim at the lower end of the body, spring means tending to turn the plates on the pivot toward each other over the pan, the free end of the plates being toward the high part of the rim whereby the weight of the user when seated with the buttocks each supported by a plate, causes the plate to ride down the incline and thereby spread the buttocks substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. A bed pan comprising a body portion of panlike form of less depth at one end than at the other and having a rim, the rim being upwardly inclined from the lower toward the higher end, saidhigher end being less in width than the body providing rim portions extending from the said higher end in opposed angular directions to junction with the wider portion of the body, a pair of plates of duplicate form each pivoted to the rim portion at the lower end on opposite sides of the center plane of the body and having free ends normally resting on the said rim portions at the higher end, said plates each being formed to receive a buttock of the user and the weight of the user causing the said free ends to ride down the inclined rim portions and thereby spread the buttocks.

'7. A bed pan comprising a body portion of 'panlike form of less depth at one end than at the other and having an outwardly inclined rim portion, said rim being upwardly inclined from the lower end and being sharply inclined toward the higher end, a pair of plates of duplicate form shaped to receive the respective buttocks of the user when seated thereon, said plate being pivoted to the lower end of the body portion and having free end portions lying on the rim whereby the weight of the user causes the same to separate by riding down'the rim, the under surface of the plates lying in engagement with the outwardly inclined flange of the rim portion thereby limiting the separating movement of the plates and sealing the interstice between the plates and rim, and spring means tending to turn the plates toward each other to a position practically cov ering a major portion of the pan when relieved of the weight of the user,

8. A bed pan comprising a body portion of panlike form having one end lower than the other and said other end being narrowed toward the end providing rim portions extending in oppositely inclined relation toward the rear end for a distance, a pair of plates pivotally supported at the lower end of the pan and shaped to receive the buttocks and the leg portions of the user for a distance along the opposite end, the inner edge of each of the plates at the junction of the two curved portions forming an upstanding part closely engaging the crotch of the user and the said inner edges rearwardly from said point being upturned to engage the inner faces of the respective buttocks, the weight of the user when seated thereon causing the free ends of the plates to move outwardly and downwardly on the rim portion of the pan to thereby spread the buttocks and providing for unrestrained peristaltic action of the pelvic portion of the large intestine.

CLEMENT C. RICHARD. 

